- HYBRIDS RISING: CHINA'S MEGA AUTO SHOW REVEALS A SURPRISING TREND

This time, particularly the German brands were significantly better prepared, because something like 2023 should not happen again. Yet, the tension was clearly felt among many executives of Volkswagen, BMW, Audi or Mercedes – the stroke of Chinese manufacturers on the gigantic domestic market and the long-standing largest car trading place in the world for sales and earnings of all is too great.

Auto China 2024 - domestic competition troubles the Germans

“The Audi product range is strong,” emphasizes Audi CEO Gernot Döllner, “we have a clear plan for localization and regionalization of our models and have all the prerequisites to remain a strong player on the Chinese market with our partners FAW and SAIC.” But neither the general conditions nor the situation for the European manufacturers have really changed.

Admittedly, Audi is presenting its important Q6 L Etron in China, for the first time in the Chinese long version, Mercedes is unveiling its electric G-Class and BMW is showing a glimpse of the upcoming i3 as a successor to the 3 series along with the subtly refreshed i4 with the new class.

Lamborghini shows partially electric Urus

However, real showstoppers as true novelties are hardly to be found among the European brands at the most important auto show of the year. Lamborghini presents its hybrid Urus SE with more power and electric range, Mini unveils its electric entry-level crossover with the Aceman and Porsche shines with the sister model of the Audi Q6 / Q6 L Etron, the electric Macan.

VW shows studies, Chinese car manufacturers build series models

The VW ID Code gets even more attention. Although it is only a 16.07-foot-long concept study from VW’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, it is supposed to introduce a new design line and arouse interest in electric models that look more chic than the previous ID vehicles. The first series models should at least be announced in China this year. “The ID Code gives a first glimpse into the future of VW in China: with new design, new technology standards and a holistic brand experience – specifically tailored to the needs and wishes of our Chinese customers,” says Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer, “this is how we usher in a new era of mobility in China, together with our Chinese partners.”

The electric stars come from BYD, MG or Xiaomi

But even if the German top managers are self-confident in Beijing – the fair appearances of the Chinese domestic players are in a completely different league. Countless stands with powerful big screens, narrow aisles and too many novelties – the fair in Beijing is significantly more compact than the gigantic counterpart in Shanghai which is hosting Auto China again next year. But the volume brands are also called Changan, Saic, MG, Roewe, Baic, Robocar or the Chinese market leader BYD, who has surprisingly little new to offer in Beijing.

The ubiquitous SUVs are mostly presented larger than in Europe and small vehicles can hardly be found in the eight exhibition halls anyway. Instead, some Chinese brands try to attract attention with powerful radiator grilles, chrome decorations or extravagances such as gull-wing doors. Just as few of the nameless crossover models are likely to make it to Europe as the decidedly rugged off-road vehicles which are more reminiscent of armored reconnaissance vehicles than tame SUVs.

Luxury vans are a huge segment

A trend also seems to be manifesting itself in Beijing: high-quality luxury vans modeled on Lexus LM or Volvo EM90 are parked everywhere in the bright spotlight, which should soon also make the leap to Europe and put pressure on luxury sedans. New models like Li Mega, Xpeng X9 or a Zeekr Mix go one step further towards luxury jet on wheels – with a lot of staying quality for the traffic jams of tomorrow.

End of combustion engines? Not in China - hybrids are on the rise

There are hardly any pure combustion engines to admire, but plug-in hybrids are of central importance at the dazzlingly brightly illuminated fair stands. This is hardly surprising, as BYD – Build Your Dreams, which snatched the market leadership in China from Volkswagen after almost four decades – has a PHEV share of almost half alone.

Hybrids are growing even stronger than e-models

The competition from Europe has little to counter this because in China one also relied on either electric models or pure combustion engines. The electric revolution is still not as purebred as it often seems: the plug-in hybrids are growing as a segment in China even stronger than that of pure battery cars, most of which are also located in the area of small cars and micro-mobility.

EU misses the hybrid trend

Only slowly is this being corrected here because Chinese customers very much appreciate the combination of solid combustion engine and an additional electric drive with a range of more than 62.14 miles in everyday life. Hardly a domestic manufacturer at Auto China that does not offer plug-in hybrids – sometimes with up to 155.34 miles of electric range. In Europe, many had already written off the hybrid trend.

2024-04-25T13:14:50Z dg43tfdfdgfd